Ashlee Fontes

Ashlee Fontes is a pioneering leader in global soccer and a passionate advocate for women in sports. She was the first woman of color to lead a U.S. professional sports franchise, serving as CEO of the Washington Spirit. She co-founded the Girls Academy, the nation’s only all-girls elite soccer platform, and served as president of United Soccer Coaches, the world’s largest coaching organization.

Fontes is the founder of TLH Reckoning, Tallahassee’s first pre-professional women’s soccer club, where she is building a youth-to-pro pathway and leading efforts to bring a professional team and stadium complex to the region. Her work centers on equitable access and sustainable growth in women’s sports.

A record-setting defender at Florida State University, Fontes earned her Ph.D. in sport management from FSU, where she has taught, mentored students and developed strategic partnerships to expand career opportunities in athletics. Her career spans more than 30 years and includes recognition such as the Oasis Trailblazer Award and speaking engagements at global forums, including Soccerex and the World Football Summit.

Fontes continues to shape the future of the game through innovation, resilience and a commitment to equity.